Alex's finger rolled on the mouse roller right in his office. It was a new day, a new week, and a new atmosphere had brewed following the event that had recently happened.“What is this all about?” Alex murmured to himself as his eyes caught an appalling piece of news on his laptop screen.“President Agata Newsway of Norway Bradad has increased the trade tariff against Velmoria to 214%.” Alex read from the laptop screen in shock, blinking twice to ensure he had read it right.Velmoria, an independent country, had never had any beef with Norway Bradad before. In fact, they had no significant economic ties whatsoever. Velmoria had already been trading with other countries in place of Norway Bradad, so this sudden move made no sense at all. Where was this hostility coming from?Alex clicked on the article and read further, drawn in by a growing sense of unease.His curiosity intensified as he tried to understand why the president of Norway Bradad had decided to impose a penalty through t

Alex and the advisory council were still deep in their meeting, discussing national matters, when a sudden sound disrupted the focused atmosphere. Alex’s phone began to ring, its sharp tone slicing through the air like a blade through silence. Heads turned slightly, eyes narrowing in disapproval, but Alex remained composed.He turned to the side just in time to see Robert walking towards him with steady steps. Robert, ever composed and professional, was clutching the phone in his hand. As Alex’s personal assistant and security detail, Robert was always close by, ready to step in whenever needed. He was more than just an employee — he was a trusted confidant.Robert paused beside him and leaned in, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Sir, President Victor Halsten from Turnish is on the line.”Alex’s eyes sharpened at the mention of the name. President Halsten wasn’t just another world leader. Their history went beyond diplomacy — it was personal. Turnish had supported him long before he a

“Hello, President Agata Newsway. It’s been a while,” Halsten said as soon as he heard the call had been transferred to Agata.He stood by the glass wall in his office, his grumpy, shaking hands buried deep in his pockets. Behind him, on a desk in the distance of his expansive presidential office, sat a cup of warm tea. A hanky was tucked into his loosened neck button inside his suit. The weather in Turnish was cold, and at his age, Halsten needed something warm to soothe his bones.“Indeed, it has been a long time,” Agata replied. He rose to his feet and walked toward his own glass wall, mimicking Halsten’s posture as though they were staring each other down from across continents.Halsten chuckled, aware of the sarcasm in both his words and Agata’s. The two nations were sworn enemies, and neither man pretended otherwise. The irony was thick in the air.“I’ll get straight to the point, President Agata Newsway,” Halsten said, his voice lower now, firmer and edged with tension. “Norway

Agata hung up the call suddenly, his breathing fast and heavy like an angry lion. He slammed the phone on the desk, clenching his fists as the fury boiled inside him.If Halsten had not threatened him, he’d have known exactly what to do. Even if it were not to later secure the oil well, he would have invaded Velmoria without a second thought and taught Alex a harsh lesson he wouldn’t forget.However, his hands were tied, and the feeling of helplessness gnawed at him. “Those motherfuckers!” Agata cursed bitterly as he pictured Halsten’s smug face and imagined giving him the weaning — right in his head again, harder this time.He exhaled sharply and moved toward his desk from the glass wall where he had been standing when he received the call. Just as he reached his chair, the heavy door creaked open, and Elisha stepped into his spacious presidential office.“Sir, I think you need to see this,” Elisha said, his voice tense with urgency.Agata turned sharply to face him. Elisha held a t

Five days and five nights passed, and Elisha was still walking towards the north in the jungle. His body was weary, his legs were swollen, and hunger gnawed at his insides like a wild beast. Each step grew heavier than the last.As the evening of the fifth day fell upon him, he found himself beneath the welcoming shade of an apple tree. He sat down heavily to catch his breath. This apple tree was the first edible fruit tree he had seen since he had started wandering through the dense and relentless jungle.To this discovery, he decided he would not miss this opportunist.Elisha looked up to the top of the tree and noticed a few apples already ripened under the orange sky. He reached out and touched the trunk, feeling the roughness of the tree bark beneath his palm. It was sturdy enough—something he could climb.Different countries, different weather, different soil, right? Back in Norway Bradad, apple trees were short. You could simply stretch out your hands and pluck even the apples